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Investment Q&A

Not investment advice or solicitation to buy/sell securities. Do your own due diligence and/or consult an advisor.

Q: Hi 5i Team,

I keep hearing that purchasing bonds is currently a generational opportunity given how elevated interest rates currently are and we are likely at the peak point of the rate cycle. How would you recommend approaching having exposure to bonds in order to capitalize on the opportunity?

Are there any other sectors or areas of opportunity that are out there that you think one should get exposure to in preparation of interest rates eventually coming down?

Thanks as always,
Jon
Read Answer Asked by Jonathan on December 01, 2023
Q: Dear 5i team.

Can you list US and Canadian small cap ETFs that are options currently, and which you prefer given the outlook over the next few mths?

Many thanks for your help.
Read Answer Asked by Arthur on October 13, 2023
Q: What do you think about taking a new position in Russell 2000 at this time? Dan Niles was on CNBC talking about how the index may outperform some of the big tech names. I am also considering a position in SPY and/or the QQQ. I tend to buy and sell stocks too quickly and my thought was to buy an index fund with a view to holding longer term so that I don't have to worry about individual names. Thank you,

Jason
Read Answer Asked by Jason on October 11, 2023
Q: Hello, I asked a question, not long ago, on XSU. Thank you for your answer. Now, I would like you to compare it to XSMC. I know it is way smaller, but the returns have been much better the past 2 and 3 years, 15 to 20% better (I know they don’t follow the same index). This order of magnitude is still surprising to me, unless much of it is a function of the exchange rate fluctuation. I know it is difficult to evaluate, but is this outperformance likely to continue? Is the small size of this ETF a dealbreaker? Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Martin on June 12, 2023
Q: If one already has a 10% weighting in ITOT would an additional position in a small cap fund be warranted? Which ETF is preferred for small cap exposure and why - IJR or IWM? It appears IJR has outperformed on all timelines. Is this due to its more concentrated approach? Is there a global small cap etf that is recommended?
Read Answer Asked by Matthew on June 02, 2023
Q: Not having a lot of personal expertise in U.S. small caps, I thought a closed ended fund or index ETF might be the way to add some U.S. small cap exposure. Can you comment on the value of Royce Micro Cap Trust or the Russell 2000 for 5-10% of an otherwise reasonably diversified portfolio?
Read Answer Asked by David on May 18, 2023
Q: Hello, what Canadian ETFs would you recommend for US or global smallcaps? I would prefer ETFs with daily volumes higher than 10k per day. Thanks.
Read Answer Asked by Martin on May 18, 2023
Q: Our daughter has secured a great job and is now in a position to invest in TSFA and RRSP's. I'm thinking she should start out investing in ETF's. Can you please recommend your favourite ETF's for each, would you also diversify to include some foreign exposure at this time ?
Read Answer Asked by Gord on February 09, 2023
Q: The first ones to forecast next year results are Goldman Sacks and they are pretty bearish on the stock market. They forecast the S&P to finish the year at 4000 after picking up steam in H2 while the first half should be down while traders will adjust their premiums with no gain in profits next year. Do you agree with their thesis? Where do you see the better overweight. In US with blue chips or smb ? Canada with oil and basic material? Look for dividend to try to make some yield? Please elaborate on your rational. Thanks a million$$$

Yves
Read Answer Asked by Yves on December 02, 2022
Q: Your last market update contained the following noteworthy statement:

“For investors with a long-term horizon, small-caps and mid-caps are presenting investors with a roughly once-in-a-decade opportunity.”

Can you recommend a few US ETFs that fit into this thesis?
Read Answer Asked by Steven on November 24, 2022
Q: Are there any Canadian based ETF’s that monitor the US based IWM, IWN, or IWO ETF’s. Thanks … Cal
Read Answer Asked by cal on November 23, 2022
Q: Can I have your opinion on the risk/reward for Small Caps in general right now? Some analysts are suggesting Small Cap valuations are currently low based on their historical position relative to larger cap companies and should “revert to the mean” in the medium term. If you were to invest in this theme what ETF would you use? As always your insights are greatly appreciated.
Read Answer Asked by Stephen R. on September 07, 2022
Q: Hello,

Please recommend some total market ETFs for the Canadian market, the American Market, for growth, for income, and/or the best overall in your opinion.

Thanks,

Mark
Read Answer Asked by Mark on August 02, 2022
Q: I would very much value your opinion /comments about Larry Swedroe's October 11, 2013 article in ETF.com entitled "The 'Black Hole Of Investing'" ( https://www.etf.com/sections/index-investor-corner/20092-the-black-hole-of-investing.html ) about why small cap growth stocks are the worst-performing segment of the investment market. And why you recommend them in your Growth portfolio (IWO) instead of small cap value, for example - Thank you.
Read Answer Asked by David on February 04, 2022
Q: Historically small cap index fund outperforms S&P500, but last couple years small-cap lags, I am thinking it might be a good time now to start to invest in samll caps...do you think this logic is justified? If so, which small cap etf do you suggest? Thank you!
Read Answer Asked by David on January 18, 2022
Q: This is a follow up to a previous question about USD ETFs where you suggested IWO for the long term small cap portion of a USD TFSA or USD RRSP. I'm curious why you suggest IWO in particular, as it seems to be a recurring suggestion. I'm partiuclarly interested in a comparison of IWO to IWM, VTWO, VBK and SLYG, how you would distinguish them, and in what situations these others might be preferred over IWO. These others all seem to have lower fees and slightly different composition features. Please take as many question credits as needed - thanks as always for helpful answers.
Read Answer Asked by Brad on November 17, 2021
Q: Hi Peter, Ryan, and Team,

The most recent question about XMD was on Feb. 23.

For a combined portfolio that is skewed somewhat more heavily to larger-cap stocks, could XMD make a good addition? From the iShares website: "Targeted exposure to mid-cap and small-cap Canadian equities". (I can trade this ETF commission-free.) XMD holds 175 stocks, many of which are favoured by 5i, but of course it also holds some that have fallen out of favour. Please suggest alternative Canadian and US ETFs that you may consider "better" but have the same overall goals of XMD.

As always, your advice is important.
Read Answer Asked by Jerry on October 19, 2021
Q: Hi 5i,

For a new position and a 5+ year hold do you currently prefer IWM over IWO? Or could you recommend another ETF that would be good small cap exposure. Would IWO be a bit more challenged in a higher inflation environment?
Read Answer Asked by Dean on October 15, 2021
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